Jackson hits out after Neverland raid

Michael Jackson has vented his anger at the "dreadful allegations" against him after police raided his Neverland Ranch as part…

Michael Jackson has vented his anger at the "dreadful allegations" against him after police raided his Neverland Ranch as part of a criminal investigation.

More than 20 investigators served a search warrant at the sprawling ranch amid reports that a 12 or 13-year-old boy had made an allegation of sexual abuse against the pop superstar.

Jackson has denounced media coverage of the search in a statement.

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I've seen lawyers who don't represent me and spokespeople who do not know me speaking for me. These characters always seem to surface with dreadful allegations just as another project, an album, a video is being released.
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Mr Michael Jackson

In it he said: "I've seen lawyers who don't represent me and spokespeople who do not know me speaking for me. These characters always seem to surface with dreadful allegations just as another project, an album, a video is being released."The British spokeswoman for Jackson said the 45-year-old musician had not been at his Californian estate in the Santa Ynez Valley at the time of Tuesday's raid. The singer had instead been shooting a music video in Las Vegas, she said.

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The spokeswoman also denied reports that paramedics had been called to Neverland during the search.

And she refused to comment on the reports from the US cable station Court TV, that an allegation of child abuse had been made against Jackson.

In a statement, she said: "We do not have any detailed information to give media following today's ongoing events at the Neverland Ranch or the reasons for them.

"Contrary to some media reports, however, we can confirm that Michael was not at Neverland during today's events (nor has he been for three weeks) and is currently shooting a music video in Las Vegas. Nor is it true that any paramedics had to be called to Neverland."

Officials refused to disclose the purpose of the search, which was carried out by investigators from the Santa Barbara County sheriff's and district attorney's offices. It was part of an "ongoing criminal investigation", Sgt Chris Pappas said, and there were no immediate arrests.